Roman Salanoa

Roman Salanoa (born 28 October 1997) is an American rugby union player for Irish province Munster in the Pro14 and European Rugby Champions Cup. He plays as a prop.

Roman Salanoa
Date of birth (1997-10-28) 28 October 1997
Place of birthLaie, Hawaii, United States
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight123 kg (19.4 st; 271 lb)
SchoolKahuku High
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017– Old Belvedere ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019–2020 Leinster 3 (0)
2020– Munster 3 (0)
Correct as of 2 January 2021
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016 United States U20 4 (0)
Correct as of 30 January 2021

Early life

Salanoa was born in Oahu, the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands. He has Samoan ancestry. He attended Kahuku High & Intermediate School and, after helping the school win a state championship in American football in 2015, Salanoa earned an All-State selection as a defensive linesman.[1]

Rugby union

In his final year of high school, Salanoa began playing rugby union for Kahuku High, and he helped the school to a state championship in the sport, the second such accolade for Salanoa. Aged 18 and having played only a handful of games in the sport, Salanoa was then selected in the United States national under-20 rugby union team for the 2016 World Rugby Under 20 Trophy, where they finished fifth.[1]

Moving to Ireland

Following his performances for the United States under-20s team, a week-long trial was arranged for Salanoa with Irish provincial team Leinster in late 2016. He returned to Ireland to join Leinster's sub-academy in September 2017, and he also joined Dublin-based club Old Belvedere, playing for the club's under-20s.[1]

Salanoa progressed to Old Belvedere's senior side, playing in Division 1B of the All-Ireland League, whilst also featuring for Leinster A in the 2018 Cara Cup, a tournament hosted in the United States between Major League Rugby side the New England Free Jacks and the 'A' teams for each of the four Irish provincial clubs. After training with the senior squad during 2019–20 pre-season, Salanoa made his non-competitive debut for Leinster as a replacement in their 47–17 friendly win against English side Coventry in August 2019,[2] before making his senior competitive debut as a replacement in Leinster's 54–42 win against provincial rivals Ulster in round 8 of the 2019–20 Pro14 on 20 December 2019.[3]

Salanoa moved to Leinster's rivals Munster ahead of the 2020–21 season on a two-year contract,[4] and made his competitive debut for the province in their 2020–21 Pro14 round two fixture against Scottish side Edinburgh on 10 October 2020, which Munster won 25–23.[5]

References
  1. "A Hawaiian former American footballer is part of Leinster's sub-academy". The42. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  2. "'It's a work in progress': Hawaiian prop makes first Leinster appearance". The42. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  3. "Match Report: Leinster Rugby 54 Ulster Rugby 42". Leinster Rugby. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  4. "Squad Update | Sammy Arnold, Conor Oliver & Roman Salanoa". Munster Rugby. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  5. "Report | Brilliant Late Win For Munster". Munster Rugby. 10 October 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
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